A10 fusion vs a12 bionic: A12 Bionic vs A10 Fusion: tests and benchmarks

CPU

GPU

GPU	Apple A12 Bionic GPU	PowerVR GT7600
Architecture	—	Rogue
GPU frequency	1125 MHz	900 MHz
Computer units	32	6
Shader units	256	196
FLOPS	560 Gflops	115 Gflops
Vulcan version	1. 1	1.0
OpenCL version	2.0	2.0
DirectX Version	12	12

RAM

Multimedia (ISP)

Neural processor	Yes	No
Accumulator type	NVMe	NVMe
Max. display resolution	2688 x 1242	2048 x 1536
Max. camera resolution	2x 12MP	1x 32MP, 2x 12MP
Video recording	4K @ 60FPS	4K @ 60FPS
Video playback	4K @ 60FPS	4K @ 60FPS
Codec support	H. 264, H.265, Motion JPEG	H.264, H.265, VC-1, Motion JPEG
Audio	AAC, AAC‑LC, Apple Lossless, HE‑AAC, Linear PCM, AAX and AAX+, HE‑AAC v2, MP3	AAC, AIFF, CAF, MP3, MP4, WAV

Communications and networks

General information

Poll

Smartphone on which of the chips would you prefer?

A12 Bionic

438 (84. 4%)

A10 Fusion

81 (15.6%)

Total votes: 519

Competitive comparisons

1.
Snapdragon 778G or A12 Bionic

2.
A15 Bionic or A12 Bionic

3.
A11 Bionic or A12 Bionic

4.
Snapdragon 780G or A12 Bionic

5.
A14 Bionic or A10 Fusion

▶️ Compare other SoCs

Apple A10 Fusion vs Apple A12 Bionic: What is the difference?

2 x 2.5GHz & 4 x 1.6GHz vs 2 x 2.34GHz & 2 x 1.05GHz

Which comparisons are the most popular?

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Apple A11 Bionic

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Apple A9X

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Apple A13 Bionic

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Apple A8X

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Apple A9X

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Apple A10X Fusion

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 870

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Apple A13 Bionic

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 860

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G

Apple A12 Bionic

3

0003

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

MediaTek Helio P35

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Apple A10 Fusion

vs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

Apple A12 Bionic

vs

Apple Apple A10

vs

Apple A10X Fusion

Apple A12 Bionic

2 vs

2 10. 0 /10

1 votes

/10

7 Votes

performance

/10

1 Votes

9.3 /10

Votes 9000

1. CPU speed

2 x 2.34GHz & 2 x 1.05GHz

2 x 2.5GHz & 4 x 1.6GHz

CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second the processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors) . It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.

2nd processor thread

More threads result in better performance and better multitasking.

3. Uses big.LITTLE technology

✔Apple A10 Fusion

✔Apple A12 Bionic

Using big.LITTLE technology, the chip can switch between two sets of processors to ensure maximum performance and battery life. For example, while gaming, a more powerful processor will be used to improve performance, while checking email will use a less powerful processor to extend battery life.

4. Uses HMP

✖Apple A10 Fusion

✖Apple A12 Bionic

HMP is a more advanced version of big.LITTLE technology. In this configuration, the processor can use all cores at the same time, or only one core for low-intensity tasks. This can provide high performance and longer battery life respectively.

5. turbo clock speed

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

2.49GHz

When the processor is running below its limits, it can jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.

6.L2 cache

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

More L2 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.

7.L1 cache

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

More L1 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.

8.hour multiplier

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

The hourly multiplier controls the speed of the processor.

9.L3 cache

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

More L3 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.

Memory

1.RAM speed

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

2133MHz

Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.

2nd DDR memory version

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

DDR (Dynamic Dynamic Random Access Memory Double Data Rate) is the most common type of RAM. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient.

3.max memory

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

Maximum amount of memory (RAM).

4.max memory bandwidth

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

34.1GB/s

This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.

5th memory channels

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.

6.eMMC version

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

A newer version of eMMC — built-in flash memory card — speeds up the memory interface, has a positive effect on device performance, for example, when transferring files from a computer to internal memory via USB.

7. Supports memory troubleshooting code

✖Apple A10 Fusion

✖Apple A12 Bionic

Memory troubleshooting code can detect and fix data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.

Features

1.Has built-in LTE

✔Apple A10 Fusion

✔Apple A12 Bionic

System on a Chip (SoC) has built-in LTE cellular chip. LTE can download at higher speeds than older 3G technologies.

2.download speed

600MBits/s

1000MBits/s

Upload speed is a measurement of Internet bandwidth that represents the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can access online content.

3.download speed

100MBits/s

150MBits/s

Upload speed is a measure of the bandwidth of an Internet connection, representing the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can send information to a server or other device.

4. TrustZone

✔Apple A10 Fusion

✔Apple A12 Bionic

The technology is integrated into the processor to ensure device security when using features such as mobile payments and streaming video using Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology.

5.uses multithreading

✖Apple A10 Fusion

✖Apple A12 Bionic

also known as threads. Thus, each core can run two instruction streams at the same time.

6. Has NX bit

✔Apple A10 Fusion

✔Apple A12 Bionic

NX bit helps protect your computer from virus attacks.

7 bits transmitted at the same time

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

NEON provides faster media processing such as MP3 listening.

8. Has AES

✔Apple A10 Fusion

✔Apple A12 Bionic

AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.

9.VFP version

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

The floating point vector (VFP) is used by the processor to provide enhanced performance in areas such as digital imaging.

Geotagging

1.Geekbench 5 result (single core)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform test that measures the single-core performance of a processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)

2.Geekbench 5 result (multi-core)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures multi-core processor performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)

3. PassMark result

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

This test measures processor performance using multithreading.

4. PassMark result (single)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

This benchmark measures processor performance using a thread of execution.

5. PassMark result (overclocked)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A10 Fusion)

Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Apple A12 Bionic)

This test measures the performance of the processor while it is overclocked.

Price comparison

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Which mobile chipsets are better?

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Apple A10X Fusion vs Apple A12 Bionic — comparative characteristics and benchmarks of processors

VS

Apple A10X Fusion

Apple A12 Bionic

Which one to choose?

It’s time to choose the winner. What is the difference and which is better in Apple A10X Fusion vs Apple A12 Bionic comparison? Which processor is more powerful and faster? It is quite simple to determine — look at the comparative table of all characteristics. A processor with more cores/threads, as well as a higher frequency and large L2-L3 is the absolute winner!

Cores, base and turbo frequency of the processor

Who will win in the comparison of Apple A10X Fusion and Apple A12 Bionic. The overall performance of a processor can be easily determined based on the number of cores, threads, base and turbo clock speed + L2-L3 volume. The more cores, L3, and clock speed, the more efficient the processor. Please note that high specifications require the use of a powerful cooling system.

1.30 GHz

Clock frequency

1.59 GHZ

6

Nuclei

6

2.38 GHZ

turbo (1 core)

2.49 GHZ

6

Number No

Acceleration

No.

2. 38 GHZ

turbo (6 nuclei)

2.49 GHZ

Hybrid (Big.little)

Architecture

HYBRID (Big.little)

9000 3X Hurricane

A Core

2x Vortex

3X ZEPHYR

B Core

4x Tempest

—

C Core

—

9000 9000 9000 2 Apple A10X FUSION NAMENI Apple A12 Bionic

Mobile

Segment

Mobile

Apple A10/A10X

CPU group

0003

Apple A10x

Name GPU

Apple A12

0.90 GHZ

Frequency GPU

1.59 GHZ

No Turbo

GPU

9000 2.49 GHZ

Executive blocks

4

384

Number of shaders

1

Number of monitors

1

10 NM

Technology

7 NM 9 NM 9 NM

Q2/2017

Release date

Q3/2018

4 GB

Max. GPU Memory

4 GB

Hardware codec support

Here we are dealing with specifications that are used by some processor manufacturers. These figures are mostly technical and can be disregarded for comparative purposes.

Decode / Encode

h364

Decode / Encode

Decode / Encode

JPEG

Decode / Encode

Decode

VP8

Decode / Encode

Decode

VP9

Decode / Encode

Decode

VC-1

Decode

Decode

AVC

Decode

Decode

h365 / HEVC (8 bit)

Decode / Encode

Decode

h365 / HEVC (10 bit)

Decode / Encode

No

0003

RAM and PCIe

These are the memory standards supported by processors. The processor can support multi-channel RAM with a high clock speed, this directly affects its speed and performance.

LPDDR4-3200

Memorial type

LPDDR4X-4266

3 GB

Maximum memory

16 GB

2

2

Memory Channals

1

NO

ECC

003

No

Encryption

Data encryption support PCIe

Thermal management and TDP

Today’s systems are loaded with demanding games and workloads that unleash the full potential of the processor. When choosing between Apple A10X Fusion and Apple A12 Bionic, it is better to choose the option with less heat dissipation (TDP).

—

Maximum temperature

—

—

Maximum TDP

—

—

TDP Down

—

8 W

TDP (PL1)

6 W

—

TDP (PL2)

—

Technical details

—

L3-CACHE

—

10 NM

Technology

7 NM

A10

A12

None

Virtualization

None

N/A

SOCKET (connector)

N/A

/2017

Exit date

Q3/2018

X86-64 (64 BIT BIT BIT BIT BIT )

set of instructions (ISA)

x86-64 (64 Bit)

8.00 MB

L2-Cache

8.00 MB

—

Part Number

—

devices combined with this processor

You probably already know which devices use processors. It can be a desktop computer or a laptop.

Apple iPad Pro (2. Gen)
Apple TV 4K

Used in

Apple iPhone XR
Apple iPhone XS
Apple iPhone XS Max
Apple iPad mini (5. Gen)
Apple iPad Air (3. Gen)

Popular processor comparisons

one.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Apple A13 Bionic
2.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Apple A14 Bionic
3.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Intel Celeron N4020
four.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
5.		Apple A10X Fusion vs. Apple A12 Bionic
6.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
7.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. AMD Ryzen 5 4600G
eight.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
9.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Intel Celeron J4115
ten.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Intel Celeron J4125
eleven.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE
12.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Intel Core i7-1160G7
13.		Apple A12 Bionic vs. Apple A15 Bionic
fourteen.		Apple A10X Fusion vs. Intel Celeron J4115
fifteen.		Apple A10X Fusion vs. AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

apple a10 fusion vs snapdragon 845

Author admin Reading 5 min. Views 34 Published 12/15/2019

In 2016, Apple released the A10 Fusion chip, which was supposed to be more powerful than the flagships of competitors. Many experts, however, did not share the opinion of the Cupertino company. And they had their reasons.

And now let’s try to compare the processor from Apple with the top (at that time) Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. Will the chip from the «apple» be able to overcome the «red dragon»? Find out at the end of the article. It will be interesting.

Contents

1. Key Specifications
2. Test Results
3. Graphic Specifications
4. Camera Support
5. Other Specifications
6. Conclusion
7. Why is Apple A10 Qualcom Snapdragon4 Fusion better than Qualcom 8 Fusion?
8. Why is Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 better than Apple A10 Fusion?
9. What are the most popular comparisons?
10. General Information
11. Performance

Main Specifications

This is what allows you to determine the approximate performance of a particular processor at a glance. Our subjects have the following characteristics.

Features	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845	Apple A10 Fusion
Process	10nm FinFET LPP	16nm FinFET
Number of cores	8 cores	4 cores
Core architecture	4 x Kryo 385 2. 8 GHz (Cortex-A75) + 4 x Kryo 385 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A55)	Big.LITTLE 2 x Hurricane 2.34 GHz + 2 x Zephyr 1.05 GHz
clock frequency	Up to 2.8 GHz	Up to 2.34 GHz
Bit depth	64 bit	64 bit
Supported RAM	LPDDR4X, 1866 MHz, quad, up to 8 GB	LPDDR4, 1600 MHz, dual channel, up to 6 GB
Graphics chip	Adreno 630	PowerVR GT7600
Communication standard support	X20, LTE Cat.18 1.2 Gbps	LTE Cat. 6 300 Mbps
Quick charge mode	Qualcomm QuickCharge 4/4+	No

If you look at the technical characteristics, the 845th «dragon» looks more attractive. But this opinion is purely subjective. The test results will tell you everything that is possible about the performance of processors.

Test results

The tests were carried out in the popular AnTuTu benchmark. The chip from Apple was the first to be tested. Its results turned out to be quite expected for a processor of this class.

Results for A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 was the second tested. And its results were also quite expected. He certainly did not hit the dirt with his face.

Results for SD 845

According to the above diagrams, it becomes clear that the «dragon» is several times more powerful than the chip from Apple.

Graphic characteristics

Can a smartphone pull cool toys? It depends on the processor. More precisely, from its graphic characteristics. Our heroes are like that.

Features	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845	Apple A10 Fusion
Graphics chip	Adreno 630	PowerVR GT7600
chip frequency	700 MHz	Unknown
Technology support	OpenGL ES 3. 2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.x, DxNext	Metal
Display support	4K UHD (4096 x 2160), 60 FPS	Full HD, 60 FPS
Support VR	Yes	No

It is impossible to say anything about the performance of Apple’s graphics subsystem, since a lot of information is still hidden. But judging by the maximum screen resolution, the chip is noticeably inferior to the processor from Qualcomm.

Camera support

If the dual photo module is not installed in the device, this means that the processor simply does not support it. And how is it with our subjects?

And again ahead of the processor from Qualcomm. Even in the absence of information about the resolution of one sensor, Apple’s chip noticeably loses in other characteristics.

Other features

The section is devoted to navigation features, wireless interfaces and other necessary things. How do the test subjects deal with this? The characteristics are quite satisfactory.

And the 845th «dragon» wins again. Apple’s processor is no match for this «monster».

Conclusion

So, two interesting processors were considered above. Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 deservedly won the first place. The well-publicized Apple A10 Fusion took the second place. Apparently advertising isn’t everything.

Why is Apple A10 Fusion better than Qualcomm Snapdragon 845?

• 3 wider interface

Why is Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 better than Apple A10 Fusion?

• 2.66x higher CPU clock speed
  4 x 2.8GHz & 4 x 1.77GHz vs 2 x 2.34 & 2 x 1.1GHz
• 6 more CPU threads

What are the most popular comparisons?

Apple A10 Fusion

Apple A12 Bionic

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

MediaTek Helio G90T

Apple A10 Fusion

Apple A11 Bionic

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 730

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Samsung Exynos 9610

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 710

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 670

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

MediaTek Helio P70

Apple A10 Fusion

Apple A10X Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 712

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Huawei Kirin 970

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 675

Apple A10 Fusion

Intel Core i5-8250U

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Huawei Kirin 980

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 710

A 32-bit operating system can support up to 4 GB of RAM. 64-bit allows more than 4 GB, which improves performance. It also allows you to run 64-bit applications.

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

With integrated graphics, you don’t need to buy a separate card.

Apple A10 Fusion

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

The smaller size indicates a newer process for the chip.

Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 980

OpenGL ES is used to play on mobile devices such as smartphones. Later versions support better graphics.

Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 980

Some applications use OpenCL to take advantage of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions are more functional and better quality.

Intel Core i5-1035g7

performance

MediaTek Helio X30

2 x 2.6 & 4 x 2.2 & 4 x 1.9ghz

2 x 2.34GHZ & 2 x 1.1GHZ

4 x 2.8GHZ & 4000 4 x 2.8GHZ & 4000 x 1.77GHz

More threads result in better performance and better multitasking.

This rating contains all the current processors used in smartphones. This table will be constantly updated as new processor models are released. All performance information for ARM processors was taken from various sources on the network, the rating is based on the scores received by the processor in benchmarks such as AnTuTu and Geekbench.

Our information does not claim to be absolutely accurate. This smartphone processor rating is allows you to evaluate and compare the performance of various chipsets, which can help you choose a new smartphone.

Apple a10 fusion vs Apple a11 bionic, a10 processor iPhone

The next version of the architecture for ARM 11 embedded microprocessors has been announced. ARM claims that it will improve the quality of audio and video playback of various portable communication devices.

A new family of processors designed in part for a new class of PDAs and smart phones that allow you to send and receive small audio and video clips and run other types of data processing applications. They are expected to find applications in digital cameras, network devices such as switches and routers, and in the automotive industry, where they will be used in anti-lock braking systems.

The English company ARM does not manufacture processors itself, but licenses its architecture to corporations such as Motorola, Texas Instruments and Intel, which embody the ARM design «in silicon». ARM plans to complete the first processor architectures based on ARM 11 by the fourth quarter, and the corresponding processors, according to Eric Schorn, ARM product manager, should appear in the second quarter of 2003.

ARM 11 is the first processor family to use the sixth version of the ARM instruction set architecture, released in October 2001. It involves the use of longer, 8-stage pipelines, which should increase the initial clock frequency to 500 MHz. It also includes new processor instructions that reduce the time it takes to encode and decode MP3 music files and MPEG 4 video clips.

The core area of ​​ARM 11 processors will not exceed 7 square meters. millimeters; energy consumption will be less than 0.4 mW per megahertz. It will be manufactured using 0.13 micron technology. Such processors are designed to work with Microsoft Pocket PC, Palm OS, Symbian OS and Linux operating systems.

ARM announced the development of a new architecture at the Embedded Processor Forum, held in early May in San Jose. There, MIPS Technologies, one of ARM’s main competitors, announced a new 32-bit processor core for consumer devices such as set-top boxes and PDAs, as well as for network equipment and other embedded systems.

The MIPS32 M4K core is designed to simplify the integration of two processors on a single chip, which is increasingly being done by developers of network storage systems, home gateways and other devices, seeking to increase data transfer speed. The core typically supports a clock speed of at least 300 MHz and consumes only 0.1 mW per megahertz. It is also produced using 0.13 micron technology. The MIPS32 M4K is available for purchase now, and mass production will begin in the third quarter.

Here is everything you need to know about the new Apple A11 Bionic processor, which is installed in smartphones in iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. Galagram will tell you about the main characteristics of the new chip, its capabilities, improvements and new features.

Contents

• Apple A11 Bionic Specifications
  • How many cores does the A11 Bionic have and how do they work
  • Comparison of A11 Bionic and A10 Fusion
  • Conclusions
• Key Features
• performance A10
• Two nuclei is good, and four are better than
• graphics in the Apple processor A10x
• devices with A10 on board
  • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus

  IPAD 6 (2018)

  • Useful materials:
  • Useful materials:
  • Use

  Specification Apple A11 Bionic

  • 6 cores, 2 clusters
  • 4. 3 billion transistors
  • intelligent core power control
  • designed for augmented reality AR
  • Metal 2 and Core ML graphics software

  With each presentation of the new iPhone, Apple releases at the same time a new or slightly updated mobile processor. The chip that powers the iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone X has a new name: goodbye A10 Fusion, and hello Apple A11 Bionic.

  Why did A11 get Bionic in its name? To a greater extent, this is just a marketing ploy, which hints that the processor has become more «human», but there is still some truth in the name. This chip helps speed up image recognition, including biometrics. Apple says it’s «the most powerful and smartest chip in a smartphone,» subtly hinting that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is losing ground.

  How many cores does A11 Bionic have and how do they work

  First of all, A11 Bionic is a six-core processor. The chip design has 4 «high-performance cores» for low-end tasks and 2 powerful cores for heavy applications and high frame rate 4K video processing. These cores are combined into 2 computing clusters, and the processor architecture is similar to big. LITTLE by ARM. The processor uses heterogeneous computing, which allows devices to work efficiently with cores of different capacities.

  • AnTuTu score: over 110,000 points
  • How many scores in GeekBench 4: 4061 single-core and 9959 multi-core

  A11 Bionic vs. A10 Fusion

  Compared to last year’s A10 Fusion, Apple claims that the new processor has 25% better performance for a cluster of 2 powerful cores, while four high-performance cores will be 70% faster in processing background tasks.

  What’s even more interesting is that the controller that decides which cores get which tasks now allows all six cores to work on the same task, delivering 70 percent faster multi-threaded workloads.

  In terms of graphics performance, the GPU system is 30% faster than last year, consuming half the power when running at the same speed as A10 Fusion. This is impressive and will theoretically help increase your iPhone’s battery life while playing graphics-intensive games.

  A11 Bionic includes a faster image signal processor (ISP) for better camera performance, better pixel processing, and better noise reduction in the resulting pictures and videos. Also, according to Apple, the ISP now processes images from the dual cameras of the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X faster.0003

  Conclusions

  The Big.LITTLE model is not unique to Apple’s chip design, as processors such as the Samsung Exynos 8895, MediaTek X30, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 have been using this architecture for a long time. But what’s new with the A11 Bionic is doubling the number of lower power cores, something no one has done before Apple.

  It will be interesting to see if Apple can seriously improve battery life by reducing the number of tasks to run on more powerful cores? Many users complained about the disappointing battery life of the iPhone 7, perhaps with the arrival of the iPhone 8 and the A11 Bionic processor, everything will change.

  It wasn’t so much a talking poop, but a next-generation single-chip system with 4.3 billion transistors — the A11 Bionic — that made this cutting-edge technology possible. But seriously, in an interview with Mashable reporters, Apple’s chief marketer Phil Schiller noted that at present, the main innovation of each new generation of the company’s products are chips.

  A11 Bionic is Apple’s next major step in vertical product integration for complete control over every aspect of its devices. Johny Srouji, senior vice president of Apple’s hardware technology division, said, «Designing our own chips began about a decade ago because it’s the best way to create truly hardware- and software-optimized Apple products.»

  He also pointed out that it takes about three years for Apple to develop new chips, so the A11 Bionic began to be created even at the time of the launch of the iPhone 6 smartphone and the A8 chip. During this cycle, the plans may be slightly adjusted according to the needs of the product development team led by Jonathan Ive. But it was three years ago that the decision was made to add a neural engine to the chip to speed up calculations in the field of artificial intelligence.

  Of course, each generation of Apple chips is developed based on previous developments, but some blocks are completely recycled. For example, the two high-performance CPU cores from the A10 Fusion received a minor update, and the number of energy-efficient cores was doubled (there were four in the A11), and it became possible to use from one to all six cores at the same time. Thanks to these optimizations and the new 10nm process, the CPU block in the A11 Bionic consumes less power than the one in the A10, despite the fact that the high-performance cores are now 25% more powerful and the energy-efficient ones are 70%.

  Another major addition is a much more powerful dedicated image processor that allows for better camera color reproduction, better low-light noise reduction, and faster effects such as studio lighting in the new portrait mode. With this new ISP block, for the first time in the smartphone market, video recording in 4K resolution at 60 fps or 1080p at 240 fps is possible.

  Apple has used Imagination Technologies graphics in its SoCs for many years, most recently the 6-core PowerVR GT7600 accelerator. But in the A11, the company decided to integrate an in-house designed GPU block. This triple-core GPU, according to Apple, is 30% more powerful than the Imagination block used in the A10 Fusion, and consumes half as much power with the same performance. The accelerator is optimized to work best with Metal 2’s low-level graphics API and, according to Apple, allows you to create console-class games.

  Johnny Srugi noted that for 30 years the company has adhered to the principle that in areas where it considers it possible to innovate, it tries to create its own solutions: single-chip system, CPU, ISP, display, and so on. The next step in this direction is the GPU, thanks to which Apple now has complete control over the graphics on its iOS platforms: from hardware to compilers, programming languages, libraries and operating system. All this is created to work in a single optimal bundle.

  A completely new block for speeding up specific tasks is a dual-core neural engine with a performance of 600 billion operations per second. It performs well in matrix multiplication and floating point calculations and is used to accelerate specific machine learning algorithms such as Face ID, Animoji, augmented reality, studio lighting for portraits, and more. It was created to work effectively with the Apple Core ML AI library.

  Such accelerators are relatively new to the industry. For example, just last year Google introduced dedicated TPU (Tensor Processor Unit) server hardware accelerators for computing using its TensorFlow AI library. It released the second generation of TPUs this year, as well as a mobile-optimized version of the machine learning library. Other companies are also moving in a similar direction. For example, Facebook has a similar technology called Caffe2Go — it was introduced in November last year and made it possible to create filters for photos and videos based on neural networks that work directly on the user’s device in real time.

  Google certainly plans to implement hardware TPU units for mobile devices, but Apple was ahead on this front and was the first to integrate such an accelerator into its smartphone chip. Until now, most AI calculations have been performed in the cloud, but running such algorithms directly on the device reduces delays, does not require an Internet connection, and provides a higher level of privacy (because the data does not leave the device).

  A11 Bionic also includes a host of other blocks such as a digital signal processor for high-quality sound processing, various I / O controllers, specialized correction code algorithms (ECC) and other blocks that increase the safety and reliability of the device. Over 10 years, the Apple team has done an impressive job in the semiconductor field, going from 65nm chips with 100 million transistors to 10nm chips with 4.31 billion.

  The iconic Fusion A10 processor is Apple’s first mobile processor to use a frugal yet high-performance architecture based on two «gluttonous» and productive cores paired with two more frugal cores.

  This allows not only to increase the performance of a smartphone or tablet, but also to increase its battery life at the same time, switching the load to small, energy-efficient cores during idle or sleep mode of the gadget.

  These changes represent the most significant breakthrough in both power efficiency and microprocessor performance since the advent of the 64-bit architecture.

  Main features of A10

  • Increase the number of physical cores by two.
  • Keeping the old 16nm manufacturing process.
  • Larger crystal size A10 compared to A9.

  Photo: Comparison of Apple A10 characteristics and parameters of other microprocessors.

  The failure to move to 14nm was most likely due to high production volumes, which would have been too complicated to move to more recent technology. However, the preservation of the knurled production scheme made it possible for the company to devote more time to optimization, both of finished products and of the chip itself and its architecture.

  A10 performance

  This is where Apple made a big leap forward compared to the A9. The 40% jump in performance over its predecessor is astonishing.

  Of course, this was achieved mostly by adding two more physical processor cores, but the improved architecture, as well as higher frequencies (a quarter higher than its predecessor) made a significant contribution.

  By the way, a significant increase in the frequency of cores (up to 2.33 GHz) with the same process technology became possible due to the increase in voltage on the chip and an improved heat dissipation system.

  Two cores are good, but four is better

  Along with the addition of two extra cores was added:

  • System for changing the frequency and voltage in real time, moreover, with the shutdown of both entire cores and individual computing units. This gave a lot of flexibility in both power consumption and processor performance;
  • A new controller has been added to the iPhone 7, allowing for more efficient load balancing between cores or loading only some of them
  • A special scheme was created for dividing the processor cache into each of the cores, which allows, when necessary, a separate core to solve problems independently, without referring to the cache memory of other cores
  • And, of course, the size of the third level of processor memory cache was doubled from 4 to 8 megabytes.

  Graphics in the Apple A10x processor

  The graphics subsystem, as before, with the A9 class chip is based on a six-cluster design, but the performance in the A10 compared to its predecessor has increased by as much as 50%.

  This result seems to have been achieved through software and architectural optimization, and of course due to its own programming interface for complex applications. This greatly facilitated software optimization and, as a result, increased productivity.

  Devices with A10 on board

  iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

  Very similar in design to their predecessor, but thanks in large part to the Apple A10 Fusion processor, more productive smartphones that even in 2019 cope perfectly with most applications and mobile games.

  The only significant minus of the seven, in comparison with the Plus version, is the amount of RAM cut from three to two gigabytes.

  iPad 6 (2018)

  Inexpensive, budget tablet that really positions itself as a tablet. After all, if you take the same cutting-edge iPad 10.5 of the same (2018) year of release, which is much more powerful, it can replace a laptop or even a PC.

  However, there are not many people who are ready to completely abandon the PC in favor of the tablet. But there are more than enough people who need a relatively inexpensive and productive device for the road, on which you can read a book or watch a movie.

  For them, the iPad 2018 is the best fit. Especially when you consider that its battery life thanks to the Apple A10 reaches 10 hours.

  Apple A12 Bionic vs Snapdragon 855: how different are they

  Qualcomm’s latest flagship mobile processor is the first off-the-shelf 5G mobile chipset. In addition, the Snapdragon 855 features new Kryo CPU cores, a 7nm power-saving manufacturing process, and an upgraded X24 LTE modem. We don’t have to wait long as the new Samsung Galaxy S10 is one of the flagships to host it.

  Try as we might, we can’t help but compare the Snapdragon 855 chipset to the Apple A12 Bionic in the iPhone. The slightly older A12 Bionic processor powers most 2018 iPhones, including the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. A12 Bionic is one of the first mobile processors manufactured using 7nm technology. This provides faster graphics performance and an improved Neural Engine.

  So we’re comparing these two top-tier 2019 processors (at least for now) to determine their similarities as well as their differences.

  Let’s dive into the comparison.

  Also on

  #comparison

  Click here to see our article comparison page

  Specifications that matter

  Property	Apple A12 Bionic	Snapdragon 855
  Property	Apple A12 Bionic	Snapdragon 855
  Design Process	7nm	7nm
  Architecture	64-bit	64-bit
  CPU	6-core processor (2 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)	8 Kryo 485 processors up to 2. 84 GHz
  GPU	4-core Apple GPU	Adreno 640
  chamber	Provider Apple	Dual 14-bit CV Providers, Spectra 380 ISP
  Charger	Wireless charging, regular USB charging	Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+

  Performance improvements

  The A12 Bionic and Snapdragon 855 processors are based on a 64-bit microarchitecture and are manufactured using a 7nm process. The smaller process node improves the overall performance and power efficiency of the chipset. Well, this is the only similarity between both processors.

  A12 Bionic is configured with a six-core processor — two Performance cores and four Efficiency cores.

  The A12 Bionic only brings a relative performance hit and not too much compared to the A11 Bionic. Thus, you will notice that the application starts up a little faster thanks to the smart computing system. In addition, A12 Bionic is more energy efficient and consumes less power.

  Unlike the 6-core implementation of the A12, the Snapdragon 855 has an 8-core configuration. Qualcomm opted for a three-cluster device instead of the usual two-cluster device. The

  Snapdragon 855 features eight Kryo 845 cores clustered on one «primary» Cortex A76 core clocked at 2.84GHz, three «fast» Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.42GHz, and finally four «efficient» cores. Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.80GHz. These clusters are designed for high performance, high efficiency, enhanced task sharing, and low latency.

  In addition, the Snapdragon 855 core has a 512 KB L2 cache and is combined with a 256 KB L2 cache and a 128 KB efficiency L2 cache. These L2 caches work together to move information quickly and without interruption, acting as a bridge between the processor and memory.

  On the GPU front, the Snapdragon 855 comes with an Adreno 640 GPU that delivers a 20 percent boost in gaming graphics and can play 4K HDR10+. This is what Qualcomm claims.

  Control Tests

  Well, the test results may not exactly match the real experience. But at the end of the day, these scores help paint the chip’s potential in numbers. Hence, looking at the benchmark results helps to gauge the true craftsmanship of the chipset.

  According to Tom’s Guide, the Snapdragon 855 scored 3552 (single-core) and 11196 (multi-core) on Geekbench 4. On the other hand, the A12 Bionic powered Apple iPhone XS scored 4701 (single-core) and 11 420 (multi-core) multi-core in one test.

  The difference is quite small in multi-core tests, but there are significant differences in single-core implementations.

  Snapdragon 855

  Property	A12 Bionic
  Property	A12 Bionic	Snapdragon 855
  Single Core Geekbench 4 Score	4701	3552
  Multi-core Geekbench 4 Score	11420	11196

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  Artificial Intelligence

  Artificial intelligence or AI is playing an integral role in 2018-19 chipsets. When it comes to the Snapdragon 855, it integrates a 4th generation multi-core AI Engine to perform AI-related tasks. It is worth noting that this engine is a combination of the Hexagon 69 processor0, Kyro processor and Adreno GPU. In terms of numbers, it is capable of processing up to 7 trillion AI operations per second.

  The Snapdragon 855 Hexagon 690 DSP is enhanced for more complex AI tasks. And when combined with a dedicated DSP tensor accelerator, gives the chipset a threefold increase in machine learning performance.

  Among the many benefits of this AI engine, some notable ones include scene detection, super-resolution shots, face authentication, dual and single camera bokeh, and text recognition.

  Qualcomm’s new chipset also supports AI frameworks such as Google TensorFlow, Facebook Caffe 2, and Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX).

  Unlike Qualcomm’s 4-core processor, Apple integrates an 8-core Neural Engine into its A12 Bionic processor. And it can perform a whopping 5 trillion AI operations per second.

  In addition to tasks such as face recognition or prediction based on your actions, the key task of this processor is the allocation of resources (as we mentioned above). This intelligently calculates where to run algorithms on the GPU, CPU, or Neural Engine. At the same time, it can even direct additional computing power where needed.

  In addition, there are improvements such as faster app launches, user habit learning, and real-time machine learning capabilities. Apple claims it can run Core ML nine times faster while using only a fraction of the resources and battery.

  Shutter action

  Today, camera technology and AI go hand in hand. This is because cameras currently use the power of the artificial intelligence engine to produce images that are rich in detail and crisp, as well as sharp.

  In the case of the A12 Bionic processor, the neural engine helps to analyze images in real time and make appropriate changes. In addition, the improved provider provides homely small details in the photo. Along with this, Smart HDR provides high-quality dynamic range.

  On the other hand, the Snapdragon 855 has its own Spectra 380 image processor. Qualcomm claims to be the world’s first AI-integrated ISP.

  This gives the chip an advantage when it comes to hardware depth measurement, object segmentation and real-time object classification. For example, your phone will be able to easily replace video or photo backgrounds in real time, among other things.

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  The battle cry gets louder

  Apart from the key differences above, the Snapdragon 855’s main selling point is that it’s 5G ready, and one of the most notable improvements will be the speed bump. It is also equipped with Snapdragon X24 LTE which can provide download speeds up to 2Gbps and upload speeds up to 316Mbps.